Company Previews Thread- Page 12

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 3/10/20 at 10:19pm

Hm. Sounds like Elliot trying to cover up the fake that her leading lady can’t quite make the song work, so she’s throwing a gimmick at it.

I wish they’d just lower the keys to let Lenk sing in her smoky/Cabaret type voice.

[trpguyy]

Posted: 3/10/20 at 10:53pm

Interesting theories, though the rain was part of the production design before rehearsals began, and before anyone knew about West Side Story’s rain.

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 3/10/20 at 11:00pm

Just took 7 previews to implement?

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/10/20 at 11:01pm

trpguyy said: "Interesting theories, though the rain was part of the production design before rehearsals began, and before anyone knew about West Side Story’s rain. "

I thought of this as well. Chris Harper said a new moment would be seen at the end of act one, and there was nothing new until tonight. Was this it? Did it just take longer than expected to get instated?

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 3/10/20 at 11:31pm

I don’t mean to imply Elliot is “stealing” this idea. Rain on stage isn’t anything new.

[Alex M]

Posted: 3/11/20 at 1:24am

I was there tonight and can confirm the rain happened at the end of act 1! I loved the rain but seems that the water was hitting Katrinas mic making it hard to hear. Show was a big 10/10 for me. Closest thing I’ve seen to perfection on a stage in awhile. Only problem is the sound was all over the place tonight but I’m sure that will be fixed over previews! Can’t recommend enough!!!

[Akitarent]

Posted: 3/11/20 at 1:54am

agreed it was fantastic tonight! "Being Alive" was meh. I expected something extraordinary -I felt as if I was watching her audition.  I didn't really feel anything and disappointed but as a whole WOW.  Spectacular and love the set design.  

[trpguyy]

Posted: 3/11/20 at 2:44am

SouthernCakes said: "Just took 7 previews to implement? "

Yes.
A theatrical rain system requires space above the stage clear of scenery, lighting and other electronics. Space that typically doesn’t exist without careful planning. It also means that the show deck has to be constructed from a composite or heavily treated material, with a waterproof barrier between it and the house deck. Footlights, front fills speakers, and deck automation mechanics should be a reasonable distance away from the splash zone, and the deck needs to have a drainage system built in (grates were visible during act 1 at the first preview).

These things require careful, long term planning and sometimes a relatively unimportant effect might take a while to incorporate into the show. Bigger fish to fry, so to speak.

Updated On: 3/11/20 at 02:44 AM

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 3/11/20 at 8:09am

Gotcha! I think I did notice the grates and figured they were for atmospheric smoke or something!

And yeah, I kind of agree that “Being Alice” needs something. It doesn’t pack a punch and sadly comes after the highlight which is “Ladies Who Lunch.”

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/11/20 at 10:04am

I think some of you are just recognizing one of the built in issues in the show. It's ALWAYS hard for "Being Alive' to follow "The Ladies Who Lunch." When the show opened in 1970, "Ladies" was the big showstopper and the most anticipated number of the show. This can be seen on the documentary of the cast recording, it's mentioned how everyone was waiting to hear this number on record. "Being Alive" became a standard later on. 

John Doyle tried to alleviate this by cutting the applause and orchestral ending of "Ladies." A decision that many found controversial, although it actually worked, nobody got to applaud "Ladies" and the audience exploded after Raul's bombastic "Being Alive." It also didn't help that Barbara Walsh wasn't a very exciting Joanne. 

Katrina literally gets on her knees in tears during "Being Alive." What more could one want? It's always been more of a solemn and introspective moment, and she nails that. She's not going to start doing jumping jacks during it. 

Updated On: 3/11/20 at 10:04 AM

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/11/20 at 10:13am

An excellent point; ljay and I think relative to a point made earlier -- some have always wanted eleventh hour vocal pyrotechnics from any actor playing Bobby/Bobbie as sort of compensation for what they sense is (really) a rather unsatisfying character arc and journey for the main character of a Broadway musical.

[BenElliott]

Posted: 3/11/20 at 10:20am

I'll take great acting over a powerhouse vocal performance anyday especially for Bobby which has never been a big "singing" role.

[Lot666]

Posted: 3/11/20 at 10:32am

ljay889 said: "Lot666 said: "fosseboi008 said: "Claybourne, first, my goodness that bod."

Does the audience see much of it? I'm not a big Sondheim fan, but Mr. Elder gets my attention."

Yes, he’s in a very tight brief for the majority of the bedroom/Barcelona scene."

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/11/20 at 10:32am

I agree with both points, MichaelBennett and BenElliot.

I do want to post one of my favorite performances of "Being Alive." I mentioned him earlier in the thread, and it's Adrian Lester's version in the 1996 Donmar production. Out of all of her male counterparts, I find Katrina Lenk's interpretation the closest to his performance. Another actor who doesn't possess the strongest or most pleasant voice, but acts the hell out of every single lyric. Also, how great is the more pop sounding ending with the added drum beat? 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nb03Ujxld_8&list=RDNb03Ujxld_8&start_radio=1

[OffOnBwayHi]

Posted: 3/11/20 at 11:06am

ljay889 said: "Katrina literally gets on her knees in tears during "Being Alive." What more could one want?"

For her to simply sing it better.

Nothing can excuse her weak falsetto and transition/break from her chest to head voice. Her voice doesn't feel right for the song. I promise this is not a drag, but it sounds amateurish.

[joevitus]

Posted: 3/11/20 at 11:28am

Meh, on one's knees and crying seems like melodrama. Not right for the moment, which is a breakthrough, not a breakdown.

There's a difference between not having the best voice and having a weak voice. Dean Jones nails the song on the OBC recording. Superior to Larry Kert's more vocally fulfilled rendition. Jones does have a (flawed) instrument that can handle the notes--and he has the tinge of yearning in his voice.

Raul's performance was indeed bombastic. 

Agree the show will always suffer because Bobby hasn't a great character arc and Ladies Who Lunch is essentially impossible to top. But Ladies Who Lunch is something like rage while Being Alive is introspection. The former is simply more dramatic and plays better onstage because of that.

 

Updated On: 3/11/20 at 11:28 AM

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/11/20 at 11:29am

I think it's tough in 2020 to have a lead in a big broadway musical who doesn't have the vocals for the part. In the 70s you could get away with it. But not now. There's too much talent out there. Give me Mueller as Bobbie. 

[bwaydreamer]

Posted: 3/11/20 at 12:30pm

OffOnBwayHi said: "ljay889 said: "Katrina literally gets on her knees in tears during "Being Alive." What more could one want?"

For her to simply sing it better.

Nothing can excuse her weak falsetto and transition/break from her chest to head voice. Her voice doesn't feel rightforthe song. I promise this is not a drag, but it sounds amateurish."

Thank you! First off she was not on her knees and not crying when I saw her. Sixth row center. No tears to be seen. And she just sounds bad. There’s no way around it.  And no one is buying the argument that it’s hard to follow Ladies Who Lunch. What a ridiculous statement. Being Alive is one of the most beautiful and rousing songs ever written for the stage. Dean Jones, Boyd Gaines, Raul Esparza and countless others have not had a hard time with it. Katrina just doesn’t connect musically to the show and no amount of rain or tricks thrown at her songs can help that. 

[steven22]

Posted: 3/11/20 at 12:34pm

RippedMan said: "I think it's tough in 2020 to have a lead in a big broadway musical who doesn't have the vocals for the part. In the 70s you could get away with it. But not now. There's too much talent out there. Give me Mueller as Bobbie."

YES

[Bigserver1]

Posted: 3/11/20 at 12:52pm

RippedMan said: "I think it's tough in 2020 to have a lead in a big broadway musical who doesn't have the vocals for the part. In the 70s you could get away with it. But not now. There's too much talent out there. Give me Mueller as Bobbie."

Jessie Mueller as Bobbie would have been amazing.

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/11/20 at 1:03pm

bwaydreamer said: "OffOnBwayHi said: "ljay889 said: "Katrina literally gets on her knees in tears during "Being Alive." What more could one want?"

For her to simply sing it better.

Nothing can excuse her weak falsetto and transition/break from her chest to head voice. Her voice doesn't feel rightforthe song. I promise this is not a drag, but it sounds amateurish."

Thank you! First off she was not on her knees and not crying when I saw her. Sixth row center. No tears to be seen. And she just sounds bad. There’s no way around it. And no one is buying the argument that it’s hard to follow Ladies Who Lunch. What a ridiculous statement. Being Alive is one of the most beautiful and rousing songs ever written for the stage. Dean Jones, Boyd Gaines, Raul Esparza and countless others have not had a hard time with it. Katrina just doesn’t connect musically to the show and no amount of rain or tricks thrown at her songs can help that."

Boyd Gaines famously had vocal issues and absences throughout the short 1995 run. 
 

Katrina was indeed on her knees during the explorative section of “Being Alive” for the first four previews. Please do not act like I randomly made that up. It’s previews, so this could’ve changed since then, but I know what I saw, and tears were seen from the front row. 

[bwaydreamer]

Posted: 3/11/20 at 1:24pm

So because Katrina chose to go on her knees for some reason for 4 performances it makes her poor singing ok??  Hmmmmm

[BenElliott]

Posted: 3/11/20 at 1:26pm

Is it Spring Break right now or are all the kids off due to Corona?

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/11/20 at 1:49pm

bwaydreamer said: "So because Katrina chose to go on her knees for some reason for 4 performances it makes her poor singing ok?? Hmmmmm"

Show me once where I even alluded to that. I was speaking from an emotional aspect, not vocally. 
 

good question, BenElliot!

[Kad]

Posted: 3/11/20 at 1:57pm

I can't wait to see this tomorrow and see how Katrina Lenk is such a poor vocalist despite, y'know, having studied voice and performed music for her entire professional career including several notable musicals. 

Updated On: 3/11/20 at 01:57 PM